(AUDACY) MLB has has suspended Twins reliever Tyler Duffey three games for throwing behind White Sox designated hitter Yermìn Mercedes on Tuesday night, the league announced Thursday.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has also been suspended one game, and both have been fined an undisclosed amount. Duffey will appeal the suspension.
Duffey threw a pitch behind Mercedes in the seventh inning of a game the Twins trailed 4-2 in retaliation after Mercedes on Monday hit a home run off position player Willians Astudillo, who lobbed a 47-mph pitch on a 3-0 count during the ninth inning of a 15-4 game.
The home run caused a stir around baseball and more debate about its unwritten rules. White Sox manager Tony La Russa in particular was upset and took the Twins' side over that of his own player, saying there needs to be "respect" for the opponent and that he was fine with Minnesota intentionally throwing at Mercedes a night later because the pitch wasn't at his head.
La Russa had come under great scrutiny and received a lot of criticism from most across the baseball landscape, who have pointed out it's a new era and also that all bets are off when a position player is lobbing balls in at-bats against professional hitters.
Mercedes, who's finally getting a chance in the big leagues at 28 years old, is having an impressive start to the season, leading MLB with a .358 average while adding six home runs and 25 RBIs.
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